10 Guatemala Facts:
- Spanish is the Official Language of Guatemala.
- Tamajulco is the Highest Peak in Guatemala.
- UNESCO World Heritages Sites in Guatemala.
- The Importance of Agriculture.
- Is Chocolate from Guatemala?
- The Division of Guatemala.
- The Flag of Guatemala.
- Delicious Food in Guatemala.
Contents
What are 10 interesting facts about Guatemala?
11 Surprising Cultural Facts You Didn’t Know About Guatemala
- The national bird lends its name to the Guatemalan currency.
- Guatemala means “land of many trees”
- It has been inhabited for 20,000 years.
- 22 languages are spoken in the country.
- The CIA overthrew a socialist government in 1954.
What is Guatemala best known for?
Guatemala is best known for its volcanic landscape, fascinating Mayan culture and the colorful colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But this small Central American country has a wealth of homegrown produce and talent.
Did Guatemala invent chocolate?
Guatemala is touted as the birthplace of chocolate, with the Mayans worshiping the cacao tree and calling chocolate the “food of the gods.” This ancient civilization also revered chocolate for its aphrodisiac qualities, with Moctezuma apparently consuming absurd amounts of the food to enhance his sexual stamina.
What was Guatemala invented?
The instant coffee process was invented in Guatemala by George Washington, an inventor, and businessman of Anglo-Belgian origin. 8. Do you like chocolate bars? The first ever chocolate bar was also invented in Guatemala during the Mayan times.
What does the Guatemala flag stand for?
The Guatemalan flag features two horizontal blue stripes on the outer edges. These stripes are meant to represent that the nation is locked between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The color of the stripes also represents the sky over the nation. The middle stripe represents peace and purity.
How many volcanoes does Guatemala have?
37
In total Guatemala is the home to 37 official volcanoes, three of them being in constant activity–Pacaya, Fuego and Santiaguito.
What is Guatemala named after?
place of many trees
The name “Guatemala” comes from Nahuatl Cuauhtēmallān, “place of many trees”, a translation of K’iche’ Mayan K’iche’ , “many trees”. This was the name the Tlaxcaltecan soldiers who accompanied Pedro de Alvarado during the Spanish Conquest gave to this territory.
What is Guatemala famous food?
Top 10 must try traditional food in Guatemala
- Pepian. This traditional chicken stew comes from the central region of Guatemala and comes served with veggies and rice .
- Rellenitos.
- Tostadas. This list could not be complete without the mighty tostada!
- Arroz en leche.
- Enchilada.
- Champurradas.
- Gallo en Chicha.
- Tapado.
How many languages are spoken in Guatemala?
25 languages
There are 25 languages spoken in Guatemala. Spanish is the official and most spoken language. In addition, there are 22 different Mayan languages as well as two other indigenous languages – Garífuna and Xinca.
Is Guatemala poor?
Poverty in Guatemala is disproportionately high for the country with the largest economy in Central America; while Guatemala had a Gross Domestic Product of $75.62 billion in 2017, it also has the second-highest level of poverty in the Americas. Since 2006, poverty has grown.
Who first tasted chocolate?
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés may have been the first European to encounter chocolate when he observed it in the court of Montezuma in 1519.
What is the most important holiday in Guatemala?
The most famous celebration in all of Guatemala is Semana Santa—the weeklong observance of Christian Holy Week. The festivities in Antigua are arguably the most impressive in Latin America.
Who freed Guatemala?
In the 16th century, most of this area was conquered by the Spanish and claimed as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain. Guatemala attained independence in 1821 from Spain and Mexico.
How many states does Guatemala have?
Guatemala is divided into 22 departments (Spanish: departamentos) which are in turn divided into 340 municipalities.
Where was chocolate invented Guatemala?
Cacao use can be dated as far back as 1500 BC! Although the Aztecs and Mayans spanned throughout Latin America, Guatemala is the country with the title “the birthplace of chocolate.” This is because it housed the capital of the Mayan civilization: Tikal.
What is the capital of Guatemala?
Guatemala City
What is the most popular sport in Guatemala?
Football (soccer)
Football (soccer) is Guatemala’s most popular sport. The national team competes internationally, and Guatemalan players figure prominently in clubs in other national leagues, especially those of Mexico and Uruguay.
What is the national animal of Guatemala?
quetzal
Resplendent quetzals are also known as Guatemalan quetzals, and the birds are the symbol of that nation. Guatemala also trades in currency known as the “quetzal.”
When was the last volcanic eruption in Guatemala?
3 June 2018
On 3 June 2018, Guatemala’s 3,763-metre (12,346 feet) Fuego Volcano erupted, emitting an eight-kilometre (five-mile) stream of hot lava and a dense plume of black smoke and ash that blanketed Guatemala’s capital city and other regions.
Is Guatemala volcano still erupting?
The Fuego volcano spews ash on September 23, 2021. The recently recorded activity is the strongest since June 2018, when Fuego unleashed a torrent of mud and ash that wiped the village of San Miguel Los Lotes from the map, said Barillas.
